England vs Italy LIVE! Six Nations newest rating and rugby updates after Capuozzo strive

England vs Italy – LIVE!

England will probably be eyeing a dominant win over Italy this afternoon to take their Six Nations title hopes into the ultimate weekend. France’s assertion victory over Eire yesterday means England have the prospect to maneuver as much as second within the standings and a degree behind Les Blues, however a bonus-point win is required.

Steve Borthwick’s aspect are at Twickenham for the third match in a row and it has been removed from snug in current weeks, with victories over France and Scotland coming by only a single level. Borthwick has made three adjustments to his beginning XV, with Marcus Smith dropping out of the aspect and Jamie George citing a century of worldwide caps.

Italy have been hammered 73-24 by France of their final match, instantly ending any momentum that they had after victory over Wales. England have received all 31 Take a look at matches they’ve ever performed towards Italy, and it could be an enormous shock if that streak got here to an finish right here. Observe all of the motion with Customary Sport’s LIVE weblog under, that includes professional evaluation from George Flood at Twickenham!

England vs Italy newest information

George Flood at Twickenham

15:20 , Matt Verri

As anticipated, Smith has gone to full-back right here after the Lawrence damage with Daly shifting into the centres alongside Dingwall.

A really totally different search for England after so lengthy with Slade-Lawrence because the first-choice pairing.

And Italy hit again! England are on the again foot after slightly chip from Garbisi, with Italy working the ball proper and Ioane placing boot to ball brilliantly.

TRY! England 7-7 Italy | Ange Capuozzo 14′

15:19 , Matt Verri

However Italy out of nowhere hit again!

Principally their first assault. Ioane sends a kick excessive, no one goes to catch Capuozzo and it’s all on the bounce… good for the Italian full-back!

Nice strive, and Garbisi provides the extras.

England 7-0 Italy

15:18 , Matt Verri

13 minutes: The 2 Smiths mix for England, earlier than Fin tries a intelligent crossfield kick for Daly.

Simply an excessive amount of on it, ball bobbles out of play. England are attempting to be creative – in the event that they don’t do it immediately, they by no means will.

England 7-0 Italy

15:15 , Matt Verri

11 minutes: Capuozzo does properly underneath the excessive ball, with three white shirts closing in on him.

Varney launches it up himself, rock stable from Sleightholme and now England have area.

Freeman seeing loads of the ball already, good indicators for England.

George Flood at Twickenham

15:12 , Matt Verri

Concern right here for England with Lawrence having gone down off the ball and in fairly some ache. It would not look good. An early entrance for Marcus Smith.

An important sort out there from Menoncello to cease Freeman from scoring in the appropriate nook after Daly’s move, with England then shedding the ball after piling on extra strain.

England 7-0 Italy

15:12 , Matt Verri

8 minutes: Suggestion that it’s a hamstring damage and that appears pretty severe.

Lawrence’s afternoon is over. Marcus Smith is on for what will probably be just about a full match from the bench.

England 7-0 Italy

15:10 , Matt Verri

8 minutes: Sensible move from Daly out to Freeman, who fancies his probabilities of bundling his approach over the road… Menoncello halts his progress with an enormous hit.

So good, the truth is, that Italy flip it over.

Concern for England, although. Lawrence has gone down off the ball, appears to be like to be a muscle damage.

England 7-0 Italy

15:08 , Matt Verri

7 minutes: First scrum of the match is England’s, after a knock-on by midway.

Penalty benefit for England, as Lawrence bursts his approach ahead. Vintcent does properly on the breakdown, so again for the penalty.

Smith kicks for contact, simply contained in the 22.

George Flood at Twickenham

15:06 , Matt Verri

England counter-attack brilliantly after a well timed strip inside their very own half, pretty runs from Daly and Freeman.

Italy are powerless to cease them as Willis is introduced down wanting the road however stretches out a giant arm to the touch down his first worldwide strive.

TRY! England 7-0 Italy | Tom Willis 4′

15:05 , Matt Verri

Smith flings it huge and Freeman can burst down the wing. He nearly stays in contact and he has Curry on his inside.

England have fast ball within the Italian 22, Willis with an excellent line and he bulldozes his approach by means of the sort out, stretching out an arm and touching the ball down.

Smith provides the extras.

George Flood at Twickenham

15:03 , Matt Verri

England’s first move thrown is free, to loud groans from the Twickenham crowd.

Not a super begin, and now they’ve shipped a breakdown penalty. Encouraging early indicators for Italy.

England 0-0 Italy

15:03 , Matt Verri

2 minutes: Earl penalised for not releasing, Italy with the penalty simply inside their very own half.

Garbisi has a giant swing on the ball and finds contact across the England 22. Early probability for the Italians to get on the entrance foot.

KICK-OFF!

15:01 , Matt Verri

Up and operating at Twickenham!

14:57 , Matt Verri

Groups are out onto the pitch, time for the anthems.

Sadly for Italy, there aren’t any factors on provide for this.

George Flood at Twickenham

14:55 , Matt Verri

Jamie George’s daughter is a particular visitor this afternoon on the event of her dad’s a hundredth Take a look at cap.

George will get a very particular reception as he comes out alone to take in the adulation of the gang earlier than the remainder of his team-mates.

Shedding the captaincy earlier than the Six Nations like he did in such shock trend may need derailed a variety of gamers and adversely affected their mindset, however he is remained a mannequin skilled all through and is such an important a part of this workforce nonetheless. He deserves a variety of credit score – a high-quality servant of English rugby.

He’s the seventh England males’s participant to achieve the century mark, after Ben Youngs (127), Dan Cole (118), Jason Leonard (114), Owen Farrell (112), Courtney Lawes (105) and Danny Care (101).

A reminder that England are the one workforce within the Six Nations by no means to have misplaced to Italy, boasting a 100 per cent win report from their earlier 31 encounters.

Steve Borthwick will hope that choosing 5 Northampton Saints in his backline will result in some good attacking cohesion. It could be six too, have been it not for George Furbank’s damage.

Pre-match ideas from the Italy camp…

14:48 , Matt Verri

Simply over ten minutes to go till kick-off!

George Flood at Twickenham

14:46 , Matt Verri

Normally the pre-match pyrotechnics at Twickenham present a pleasant and really welcome burst of warmth in chilly circumstances, however definitely no want for that immediately.

It’s completely wonderful heat and sunshine, most uncommon circumstances for a Six Nations sport right here – you may be forgiven for considering we have been in Rome!

France will probably be considering if solely that they had this climate right here just a few weeks in the past, then the Grand Slam could be very a lot on…

England vs Italy head-to-head

14:39 , Matt Verri

England are the one workforce remaining within the Six Nations by no means to have misplaced to Italy, popping out on prime in all 31 earlier conferences courting again to 1991.

They trailed 17-14 in Rome at half-time final yr, earlier than coming again to win 27-24 on opening weekend.

Italy’s final journey to Twickenham in 2023 ended with a 31-14 bonus-point victory for the hosts, the primary of Borthwick’s teaching tenure.

England wins: 31

Italy wins: 0

Attracts: 0

George Flood at Twickenham

14:31 , Matt Verri

Italy have made six adjustments immediately as Gonzalo Quesada desperately seeks a response to the kind of end result towards France that anybody linked to the Azzurri would have hoped was now firmly previously after their spectacular progress over current years.

The return of Monty Ioane from a knee damage is large on one wing, whereas Matt Gallagher on the opposite is a really fascinating choice because the son of All Blacks World Cup winner John Gallagher makes his Six Nations debut and Ange Capuozzo strikes to full-back, with Tommaso Allan among the many replacements.

Former Gloucester stalwart Stephen Varney is at scrum-half, with Exeter’s Ross Vintcent getting the nod at No8 and Giacomo Nicotera and Saracens’ Marco Riccioni each coming into the entrance row.

In final yr’s participant of the match Tommaso Menoncello and Ignacio Brex, Italy boast one of many best centre pairings wherever on the planet that gave France loads of issues with trendy tries earlier than Les Bleus shifted into a special gear fully in Rome a fortnight in the past.

Genge hits again at England criticism

14:23 , Matt Verri

Ellis Genge has accepted sections of the England assist are sad with the kick-heavy method, however he questioned the extent of criticism from former gamers.

“There’s a feeling there, let’s not be naive,” he added.

“You possibly can really feel it that folks have been booing once we have been enjoying. I really like the followers, I believe they’re good, I’m going spherical clapping them after each sport.

“However post-game the ex-players, lately retired and lengthy retired, and folks from years and years in the past… I simply can’t consider how out of contact they’re.

“The spiel that I am studying from individuals saying how off it we’re. We received two video games on the bounce and also you’re upset about it, I do not get it.”

George Flood at Twickenham

14:17 , Matt Verri

Dropping Marcus Smith may not assist England with that improved assault, with Elliot Daly – scorer of the last-gasp profitable strive towards France – in at full-back this afternoon.

Fraser Dingwall is a shock choice within the centres as he makes his first Take a look at look for nearly a yr, with the firmly established midfield partnership of Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence damaged up.

The pack is unchanged, with a special occasion in retailer for former captain Jamie George as he earns his a hundredth cap.

Within the constructing!

14:09 , Matt Verri

England have arrived at HQ…

George set for landmark look

14:01 , Matt Verri

Jamie George will earn his a hundredth cap for England this afternoon.

The 34-year-old misplaced the captaincy forward of the Six Nations, a call that left him doubting his worldwide future.

“It was exhausting, it was tough, it was irritating and clearly then that makes you query if you are able to do it,” George instructed BBC Sport.

“I will not lie and say it did not undergo my head [finishing his England career] as a result of I did not actually know the way logistically it could work and if it could be too awkward to be coming again in. I did not need to tread on any toes.

“However in the end it was ‘what’s your intestine really feel?’ Initially I did not know if I may return, however I watched the Eire sport [England’s first match of the Six Nations] and all I wished to do was be again on that discipline as a result of I missed it.”

George Flood at Twickenham

13:51 , Matt Verri

England’s luck has lastly modified over the previous few weeks with a collection of agonising shut defeats to fellow Tier One nations giving strategy to back-to-back fortuitous one-point wins over France and Scotland.

However there’s nonetheless a way of apparent frustration amongst followers with the type of play underneath Steve Borthwick, with the constructive indicators in assault seen towards France regressing massively within the Calcutta Cup as the quantity of relentless kicking on present led to boos from the stands.

Italy will little doubt be keen to answer that drubbing by France and restore some delight with an offended Eire heading to Rome subsequent week, however England really want to point out much more verve and ambition this afternoon.

Itoje: Slender England wins an excellent expertise

13:41 , Matt Verri

England captain Maro Itoje joked that head coach Steve Borthwick will lose extra of his hair in the event that they preserve being concerned in nail-biting wins.

For the second Six Nations sport in a row, England received by a solitary level as they defeated Scotland 16-15 at Twickenham a fortnight in the past.

Fin Smith was the hero for England as his long-range penalty proved to be the profitable kick.

Scotland, nonetheless, suffered heartbreak as Finn Russell missed a late conversion, his third of the match, and so they blew the prospect to win the Take a look at.

“I believe they’re good experiences for the workforce to undergo for the expansion of this workforce,” mentioned Itoje.

“We’ve got been on the top of some destructive outcomes, tight within the final second of video games. Now we’re, I assume, discovering a strategy to win these tight exchanges and I believe all these experiences construct the character of the workforce.

“Hopefully we will carry on constructing, however it could be good if it wasn’t so slim on the finish.

“We are going to work exhausting to try to make it slightly bit simpler. I believe extra of his [Borthwick’s] hair would possibly fall out if we preserve doing this.”

The way it stands…

13:32 , Matt Verri

France answerable for the Six Nations title race after their beautiful show in Dublin.

England can transfer as much as second and shut the hole with a bonus-point win right here, however that factors distinction is an issue.

France have a bonus of greater than 100 factors because it stands – England must eat into a giant chunk of that right here.

In the event that they do, they will no less than ask the query of whether or not Les Blues can ship underneath strain on the ultimate weekend.

George Flood at Twickenham

13:23 , Matt Verri

A beautiful sunny day at Allianz Stadium Twickenham, the place the circumstances are good for some first rate operating rugby as England play their penultimate Six Nations fixture towards Italy.

France’s assertion win in Dublin yesterday signifies that England are nonetheless on this title race, however they want an enormous favour from Scotland in Paris on Tremendous Saturday.

That’s the closing sport on the final day, so England know they should beat Italy and Wales earlier than that, with at least a profitable bonus level acceptable this afternoon towards a wounded Italy aspect who shipped 73 factors at dwelling to France in an absolute demolition final day out.

Customary Sport prediction

13:16 , Matt Verri

It’s tough to make a correct evaluation of Borthwick’s England in the mean time or certainly get an correct deal with on what the actual expectations are, with shut defeats after typically good performances and fortuitous slim wins after unhealthy.

Victories over Italy and Wales would see them obtain the feat of 4 Six Nations wins that appeared very bold when initially set by the RFU earlier than the match and proceed to make Borthwick’s job safer, and they’re nonetheless within the title race.

However there’s not a lot pleasure and optimism across the place regardless of the shock last-gasp win over France and wrestling again the Calcutta Cup for the primary time since 2020, with followers clearly remaining sad with the type of play and nature of their performances, which entails few phases and a hell of a variety of kicking.

Scotland dominated a lot of the sport a fortnight in the past and showcased a model of rugby that might quieten even essentially the most hardened naysayers at HQ, with England’s assault so painfully stilted once more and no probability at sustained ball in hand for any of their principal threats, a serious regression on the encouraging enhancements seen towards France.

It usually appears that England can by no means handle to marry a stable defensive show with an thrilling attacking exhibiting, however they’ve the prospect to vary that this weekend towards an Italy workforce who shouldn’t be underestimated.

Dropping Marcus Smith feels harsh and the adjustments made are hardly prone to get supporters overly excited, however there may be greater than sufficient high quality and attacking nous within the workforce to placed on a little bit of a present, whereas the heavy Northampton contingent ought to permit for spectacular again cohesion.

England to win, by 15 factors.

England vs Italy lineups

13:06 , Matt Verri

England XV: Daly; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, George, Stuart; Itoje, Chessum; T Curry, Earl, Willis

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Van Poortvliet, M Smith

Italy XV: Capuozzo; Ioane, Brex, Menoncello, Gallagher; P Garbisi, Varney; Fischetti, Nicotera, Riccioni; N Cannone, Ruzza; Negri, Lamaro (c) Vintcent

Replacements: Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Ferrari, Favretto, Zuliani, L Cannone, Web page-Relo, Allan

Italy workforce information

12:53

Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has made six adjustments to the workforce thumped by France, with Monty Ioane getting back from damage on one wing and former England Beneath-20 worldwide Matt Gallagher – son of New Zealand’s 1987 World Cup winner John Gallagher – on the opposite as he makes his Six Nations debut.

Ange Capuozzo switches to full-back as Tommaso Allan drops to the bench and Simone Gesi from the squad altogether.

Stephen Varney replaces Martin Web page-Relo at scrum-half, whereas within the pack Giacomo Nicotera is again in at hooker for Gianmarco Lucchesi and Marco Riccioni replaces Simone Ferrari at tighthead prop.

The opposite change is within the again row, the place Ross Vintcent is most well-liked to Lorenzo Cannone at No8. Jacopo Trulla drops out of the squad together with Alessandro Garbisi.

England workforce information

12:46 , Matt Verri

Regardless of needing some better attacking ingenuity for this sport, Steve Borthwick has dropped Marcus Smith to the bench with the skilled Elliot Daly – who scored the last-gasp profitable strive as a alternative towards France in spherical two – in at full-back with Fin Smith now with a agency grip on that beginning fly-half shirt.

England’s solely different change from the 16-15 win over Scotland is within the centres, the place the established Henry Slade-Ollie Lawrence partnership is damaged up as the previous makes approach for Fraser Dingwall.

That signifies that 5 of the beginning backline are team-mates from Northampton Saints, and it could absolutely be six if George Furbank weren’t presently out injured.

The pack is unchanged, with former captain Jamie George set to earn his a hundredth Take a look at cap at hooker, whereas Tom Curry and Tom Willis have each confirmed their health to begin within the again row.

It’s a 6-2 bench cut up once more from Borthwick, however with Jack van Poortvliet changing Harry Randall as scrum-half cowl.

The right way to watch England vs Italy

12:39 , Matt Verri

TV channel: England vs Italy is being broadcast dwell and free-to-air within the UK on ITV1, with protection starting at 2:15pm GMT.

Dwell stream: ITVX may even be offering a free dwell stream service on-line, with solely a registration wanted.

Dwell weblog: Observe the sport proper right here with us, that includes professional evaluation from George Flood on the floor.

Good afternoon!

12:33 , Matt Verri

Howdy and welcome to Customary Sport’s LIVE protection of England vs Italy!

Nothing however a bonus-point win will do for England this afternoon, as they appear to take their Six Nations title ambitions into the ultimate weekend.

We’ll have all the most recent updates, build-up and workforce information forward of kick-off, which comes at 3pm GMT from Twickenham!